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Engaged scholarship goes to the movie screens

17 August 2021 | Story Dikgapane Makhetha | Photo Supplied

Engaged scholarship_movies copy — Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele (Director: Community Engagement), Napo Masheane (lead actress), and Troy Myeni (Director)

A short fiction film that was shot in Botshabelo and on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS, has once again shown the endless possibilities of engaged scholarship in the creative arts.

For this film project, engaged scholarship meant working with graduates / current students from the UFS on projects with a relevant and impactful theme for the broader community. The project was aimed at giving current or past students the opportunity to gain experience or share experience and to transfer skills in the area of filmmaking.

The short fiction film, Leshano (The Lie), was directed by Mpendulo ‘Troy’ Myeni, a graduate of the UFS Film Programme, who also won an award at the Pan African Film Festival in the US for another of his short films. Troy was also one of the three co-producers, along with Anton Fisher (a former employee of the UFS), who wrote the script, and Moeketsi Mphunye, a young filmmaker from Botshabelo.

Another notable UFS graduate who was central to the production, is Mbuyiselo Nqodi. He graduated with a BA in Drama and Theatre Arts and has since gone on to make a huge contribution to the performing arts in the Free State and South Africa. Mbuyiselo was the first assistant director of Leshano (The Lie) and had the unenviable job of keeping everything moving on set. Other members of the production registered at the UFS, but never completed their studies.

Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele, Director of Community Engagement at the UFS, said he was proud that the UFS could be part of this filmmaking project by making offices available as locations for the film and through the participation of distinguished graduates in key positions of the production.

“The UFS has much to offer young people as students, but also as graduates who seek to advance in their chosen careers. Through community engagement, these young people, whether students or graduates, can be inspired by working with professionals in various fields and gaining hands-on experience. They can then plough back into the community and the UFS.”

“This is the virtuous cycle of community engagement at a university. Students gain knowledge, then they gain inspiration and experience, and plough back into the UFS and broader community, instilling hope for future generations,” Bishop Ramahlele said.

He added that the UFS would be mentioned in the credits of the film and in publicity and marketing of the film, profiling its reputation as a centre of creative excellence.

Leshano (The Lie) was filmed in Sesotho, with English subtitles, and deals with the important issue of corruption. The lead role is played by the acclaimed Napo Masheane who grew up in Qwaqwa, supported by well-known Free State actors Maria de Koker, Seipati Mpotoane, Ntsiki Ndzume, Vincent Tsoametsi, Pesa Pheko, and Shayne Nketsi.

Several young, aspiring filmmakers from across the Free State were recruited for the project. It was their first time on the set of a film production, whether as make-up artists, behind the scenes photographers, unit production managers, wardrobe assistants, or location scouts.

With a strong line-up of women in the lead roles, the film will be released later in August during Women’s Month.

News Archive

Exciting open day and Albert Einstein program at Boyden Observatory

2005-05-06

National Science Week, which will be held from 7-14 May 2005, is an annual country-wide celebration of science, led by the Department of Science and Technology. The department selected a proposal by the Boyden Science Centre to coordinate a week of activities in the Bloemfontein area as one of the many projects in the country.

The project for Bloemfontein and surrounding areas will be delivered though a collaboration between the National Museum in Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State (UFS), including the Research Institute for Education Planning, the Department of Physics and other departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The purpose of National Science Week is:

to create awareness of the important role that science play in people’s daily lives;
to encourage our youth to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science; and
to attract more of our youth into science, engineering and technology (SET) careers.

World Year of Physics and Albert Einstein Program at Boyden Observatory

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) declared the year 2005 as the World Year of Physics (WYP). In recognition of this declaration, the great contribution of Physics to the development of technology, and its importance in our everyday lives will be featured strongly during the National Science Week 2005.

On Saturday 7 May 2005 there will be a public programme at Boyden Observatory from 15:30 as a contribution to the World Year of Physics. The programme will be presented in collaboration with the Bloemfontein branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and will include short presentations on astronomy, space exploration and the sun.

The main presentation will be at 19:00 the evening on the life and work of Albert Einstein. The programme will also include observing sessions through telescopes of objects like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn. There will also be an exhibit on Albert Einstein. Attendance is free but booking is required. For bookings, phone 051-4012561.

Public lecture programme:

Next week the following exciting public lectures will be presented as part of the Science Week activities:

Monday 9 May 2005

National Museum:

A discussion on Apocalypse Then: the greatest mass extinction of all time. The lecture will be presented by Dr Jennifer Botha, Paleontologist at the National Museum.
Bookings: 051-4479609 (entrance is free).

UFS campus:

All lectures at Kine 2, Medical Faculty, UFS campus. Follow directions from the DF Malherbe Road entrance.
Bookings: 051-4012561 (entrance is free).

Tuesday 10 May 2005:

A discussion on the Tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Wednesday 11 May 2005:

A discussion on Is there life out there? at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty).

Friday 13 May 2005:

A discussion on Hunting Black Holes at 19:30 (UFS campus, Kine 2 Medical Faculty). The lecture will be presented by Dr Phil Charles, Director: South African Astronomical Observatory.

Science awareness day at the National museum

The science week will be concluded on Saturday 14 May 2005 with a special Science Awareness Day at the National Museum, Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein.

The excellent exhibits at the museum will be supplemented with activities, career information and video shows. The duration of the programme will be from 10:00-16:00. For enquiries, please call 051-4479609.

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

6 May 2005

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